Ganguly's ODI career not over: More

The Chief selector said there could be some surprises in the one-day team for the England series.

indiaUpdated: Jan 30, 2006 19:08 IST

United News of India None

Despite dropping Sourav Ganguly from the one-day squad against Pakistan, chief selector Kiran More on Monday said it's not end of all roads for the former captain and the southpaw has every chance of a comeback in the series against England.

Refusing to rule out Ganguly's comeback, More said there would be some 'surprises' when the team is announced for the home series against Michael Vaughan's men.

"Not only Sourav, but Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman can stage comeback in the national side," More told reporters during the ongoing UP-Bengal Ranji Trophy final at the KD Singh Babu Stadium here.

He said the squad against England may contain surprise elements, "but the idea was to give chance to the best in the business and make a strong combination for the 2007 World Cup", he added.

He, however, refused to divulge further.

The former Indian wicketkeeper said presently the emphasis was on to consolidate the bench strength of the Indian side in view of the World Cup next year.

"We are very open and committed to try best talents available to us," he said.

The chief selector said young talents were being nurtured with an eye on the World Cup.

"But all thev experienced players, including Ganguly, are open for selection any time," he maintained.

More who came here a day after selecting the ODI team for Pakistan had to satisfy not only the scribes over the omission of Ganguly from the one day side, but the large crowd gathered at the stadium to watch the Ranji final had also some questions for him.

Voices from the crowd raised the Ganguly issue much to the discomfiture of the selector.

Praising Bengal pace duo of Ranadeep Bose and Shiv Shankar Paul, alongwith Punjab pacer VRV Singh, he said they were very much in the reckoning for the national side.

"Simlarly, the spin department in the domestic cricket is also full of promising players like P Ojha and Ramesh Powar," he said.

More had a special word of praise for the talent that had emerged in Uttar Pradesh saying the junior cricket had many players from the state which was a heartening sign.

Ravikant Shukla and Piyush Chawla are the captain and the vice captain respectively of the Under-19 national side to play Junior World Cup in Sri Lanka next month.

The chief national selector named Chawla, the right arm leg spinner and medium pacer Praveen Kumar as very talented players from UP to have caught the eyes of selectors.